Fabulous Christmas Craft Ideas from Howstuffworks!

[This is very lengthy but it was loaded with such great info I just had to share it all!]

Making Christmas Decorations

Are you tired of the same old Christmas decorations you see in the same old stores year after year? Then it’s time to get creative and start making your own decorations for the holidays. From stockings to tree toppers and everything in between, the cool crafts you can make are endless, especially considering you can change up materials once you get the hang of each project.

In this article, you’ll find tons of ideas for making holiday decorations, including:

Every mantel is crying out for a stocking during the holidays, so this year, make your mantel look extra special with a handmade stocking. Here you’ll find unique options, from a Great Expectations stocking you knit and felt in bold colors to a Santa Claus Stocking that’s easy enough for you to make with your kids. The options are endless. We’ll get you started in this section.

The lights are hung, the tinsel’s been thrown, the ornaments are in their right spots…so what’s missing on that beautiful Christmas tree? A tree topper, of course! This page showcases some angel tree toppers to get in the heavenly spirit of Christmas. You’ll have as much fun making them as you will displaying them on the tree. Learn how to make Christmas tree toppers here.

Christmas tree skirts offer a great way to hide the often unsightly base of your Christmas tree, but if you do it right, they can be so much more. The crafty tree skirts featured here run the Christmas-theme gamut, from holly to angels to gingerbread, but they all have a couple things in common — they’re simple to make and cute to boot! Best of all, with just a few alterations to the skirts in this section, you can easily come up with your own designs to match the rest of your holiday decor.

To get things started, take a look at the next page for great Christmas stocking ideas.

Making Christmas Stockings

With these charming handmade crafts, the stocking itself is as much as a treat as what’s stuffed inside!

Before you begin, be sure to check out the information below on using patterns.

Using Patterns

When individual project instructions direct you to cut out a shape according to the pattern, begin by downloading the pattern as a PDF. All patterns are at actual size, unless otherwise noted. Print the pattern from your computer.

If the pattern has an arrow with the word “fold” next to a line, it is a half pattern. Fold the printed pattern at the line. Then cut along the line, going through both layers of paper. Open for the full pattern.

To attach a pattern to felt, roll two-inch lengths of masking tape into circles with the adhesive side out. Attach the tape to the back of the pattern in several places. Place the pattern onto the felt, and cut through both the paper and felt layers along the lines. If you are using a half pattern, open the pattern and similarly tape it to the felt before cutting.

Holiday Spirit Christmas Stocking

Tangerines and holiday chocolates will taste even better when they’re plucked from this cheerful stocking. Stamp the poinsettias, then embellish them with pine boughs. A gilded name and a dusting of gold complete the mood.

Cut three 6-inch lengths of 5/8-inch ribbon. Lay stripes side to side across cuff, allowing an even amount of white space above, below, and in between each red stripe. (Stripes will be a little bit longer than cuff. Let extra length hang over edge of cuff for now.) Apply craft glue to back of each ribbon length, and attach them to cuff. After glue has dried, trim ribbon ends so they are even with cuff.

For heel, use three 3-inch lengths of 5/8-inch ribbon. Glue and trim ribbon as shown on pattern. Cut 3-inch length of 1/8-inch ribbon. Glue it across top of heel ribbons to cover ends. After glue has dried, trim ribbon end so it is even with felt heel. For toe, cut three 4-inch lengths of 5/8-inch ribbon. Diagonally position ribbon on toe as shown on pattern. Glue and trim these stripes the same way you did on the cuff.

Trace and cut another stocking foot and cuff from white felt to make back. Glue them together as in Step 2, making sure toe is pointed in opposite direction. Align front and back halves, one on top of the other. Lift up stocking front, and apply a line of glue 1/8 inch in from edge of stocking, leaving top open. Realign back to front, and let dry. Make hanger loop by gluing together ends of 8-inch length of 1/8-inch ribbon. Insert ends between cuff layers on top right side; glue.

Trace and cut face from beige felt, hat and mouth from red felt, and mustache from white felt. To assemble, use glue gun. For hat, roll red felt into cone shape, slightly overlapping straight sides. Glue overlapped area together. Position and glue top of face inside hat. Glue face and lower back of hat to stocking. Apply glue to lower front edge of hat and attach fiberfill. Fold over tip of hat and glue to stocking. Glue white pom on tip of hat.

Holding both yarns together, cast on 50 stitches. Purl 1 row. Work in Stockinette stitch for 7 inches. End with knit row. Cut fuzzy yarn, leaving 6-inch tail. Weave tail to wrong side of work with tapestry needle. Continue with wool yarn only. Work in Stockinette stitch for 11 more inches, measuring from last row with fuzzy yarn to row beneath needle. End with knit row.

To make second 1/2 heel flap, start at other edge of stocking, and slip 14 stitches purlwise from first stitch holder onto needle (leave center 22 stitches on holder). With wrong side facing, rejoin yarn at 14th stitch, and purl to end of row. Work in Stockinette stitch for additional 14 rows.

Cut yarn, leaving 18-inch tail. Thread end into tapestry needle, and draw needle through remaining stitches to close toe. Weave tail to wrong side. Fold stocking in half, and sew edges together using simple overcast stitch. Cut more yarn and rethread needle as necessary. Fold cuff in half, and sew edge loosely to stocking working from the inside. Weave in all loose ends to wrong side and secure.

How to Felt

To felt the stocking, set your washing machine on the hot water cycle and low water level. Add a small amount of dishwashing liquid (too many suds will hamper the felting process). Turn on the machine, and let it agitate for 5 minutes.

Stop the machine, and check to determine the amount of felting (the time will vary depending on the yarn, washing machine, and hardness of water). Continue to check every 5 minutes until the stitches completely disappear and the stocking is the desired size. You can add towels, tennis balls, or washable sneakers to the machine to help balance the load and aid the process.

Once desired felting is obtained, remove the stocking from the machine, drain the soapy water, and fill the machine with cold rinse water. Soak the stocking in rinse water for several minutes to remove all soap. Set the machine on the spin cycle to eliminate excess water from the felted stocking, or wrap the stocking in large towels and squeeze out the rinse water.

Remove felted stocking from the machine immediately after spinning to avoid wrinkling. Stretch, pull, and pat the stocking into desired shape, and let dry on a flat surface.

Santa’s Favorite Stocking

This stocking will look great on any mantel, staircase, door — wherever you need a little holiday decorating.

Copy and cut out patterns. Download the template stocking patterns here. Cut pattern pieces A and B from suede.

Cut a 21/4-inch bias strip from cotton. Baste strip of cotton to top edge of piece B, right sides together. Sew together about 3/8 inch from edge. Turn cotton to wrong side; baste in place. Turn to right side, and machine-sew along join, securing cotton strip in place.

Place piece B on top of piece A of stocking, overlapping slightly. Baste in place. With right side facing you, stitch through both layers at top edge of piece B, leaving opening for pocket. Sew pocket lining to back of piece B with overcast stitch.

Sew seam on machine with a 3/8-inch allowance. Turn bias strip to back of stocking. Fold raw edge of bias strip under, and baste in place on back of stocking; make sure bias on back is wider than on front. Stitch from right side through all layers to secure bias to back.

Cut 14×3-inch piece of suede fabric for cuff. Sew short sides together with wrong sides together. Place cuff inside stocking, with wrong side of stocking facing right side of cuff. Baste in place, easing cuff to fit. Sew seam along upper edge. Turn cuff to outside.

Cut 2×6-inch piece from cotton fabric for loop to hang stocking. Fold long edges to middle, and press with iron. Fold piece in half lengthwise, and press again. Stitch along all edges. Fold piece in half and baste loop to top of stocking.

Sew jingle bells around bottom of cuff.

Is your Christmas tree missing that finishing touch? See the next page for cool craft ideas for making Christmas tree toppers.

Making Christmas Tree Toppers

No Christmas tree is complete without a beautiful tree topper! You’ll be proud to display these crafts that are both angelic and easy to make.

Top your tree with this pretty angel — her homemade charm and lacy elegance will make her a family favorite. This could be a lovely gift for newlyweds to start their collection of Christmas decorations!

You’ll Need:

2 doilies, 8 inches each

Scissors

Waxed paper

White craft glue

Toothpicks

6-inch foam cone

11/2-inch porcelain doll parts

Paring knife

Straight pins

1 can spray stiffener

2 rubber bands

Hot glue gun, glue sticks

15 inches gold ribbon, 1/4 inch wide

Wire cutters

4 gold ribbon roses, 1/2 inch each

To Make a Pretty Patty Tree Topper:

Clip a 1-inch-diameter hole in center of a doily. Lay doily on waxed paper, and apply white craft glue to edges of cut out center.

Remove pins and take angel from foam cone. Find holes in dress to push arms through. Make sure placement looks reasonable before you glue in place. Turn over and apply hot glue to underside of angel dress, where arms stick through, to hold arms.

This beautiful Victorian angel will lend elegance and dazzle to your Christmas tree.

You’ll Need:

Tag board or heavy poster board

Pencil

Scissors

Stapler, staples

2-inch porcelain head and hands

Low-temp glue gun, glue sticks

1/2 yard cloth-covered wire, 18 gauge

Wire cutters

3 yards of green iridescent paper twist, 4 inches wide

2/3 yard gold cording

1/2 yard gold metallic paper twist, 4 inches wide

2/3 yard sheer metallic wire-edged ribbon, 21/2 inches wide

1 yard small star garland

To Make Victorian Angel Tree Topper:

Draw 20-inch circle on tag board and cut out. Cut circle in half. Bend half of circle into a cone and staple. Cut bottom so cone is 8 inches high. Bend tip of cone down 1/2 inch and staple; slip head over tip of cone and glue.

Cut two 7-inch strips of green paper twist; glue to each side of cone. Cut two 18-inch strips of green paper twist. Glue each strip over the shoulders, slightly overlapping in front and back. Trim excess paper at bottom. Cut 20-inch length of gold cording and tie around waist.

Cut 23-inch length of 21/4-inch gold ribbon. Drape around the angel like a shawl. At wrists, use 3-inch piece of star garland to secure ribbon.

Cut 18-inch length of gold twist paper, fold ends to center, slightly overlapping the ends to make wings. Use 3-inch piece of star garland to pinch together center. Glue wings to back of angel. Cut 18 inches of star garland, wrap in a circle 3 times to make a halo. Glue to head.

Use sewing machine to stitch 2 straight lines 1/2 inch apart from edge to center of skirt. (Use red thread in top of machine and white in bobbin.) Cut between stitched lines toward center to create skirt opening. Make 7-inch circle in middle of skirt with chalk. (You can use string as you did in step 2 to make a small circle.)

Sew around circle, and cut out inner circle with pinking shears.

Copy and cut out patterns. Download tree skirt patterns here. Cut out snowmen and holly designs from felt. Glue snowmen to red side of fleece and holly berries and leaves to white side of fleece with craft glue. Hot glue black buttons on snowmen. Use fabric marker to draw snowman eyes. (Note: Spot wash only with mild soap and water.)

Fuzzy Fleece Tree Skirt VariationCut different-size squares from extra white felt. Fold squares, and cut out small shapes from folded edges to create snowflakes. Unfold and glue snowflakes to red side between and above snowmen.

A Ring of Angels

Ring your Christmas tree with a crowd of angels against a hunter green background. You’ll be glad you did — especially when it is time to clean up the fallen needles. Until then, you’ll have the pleasure of viewing heavenly things on an earthly level!

Cut a straight line to center of tablecloth. Cut out 4-inch circle for tree.

Iron adhesive to back of felt squares and lame, using medium setting. Press 4 to 5 seconds. Trace patterns on paper side of adhesive. Download tree skirt patterns here. There are 5 angels on tree skirt, 5 stars to hold, and 30 scattered stars. Use antique white for face, hands, and feet; flesh for hair; red for dress; and gold lame for stars. Cut out and remove paper.

Position first angel on skirt. Iron appliques to felt. Evenly space remaining angels around skirt and adhere. Iron on both shapes of stars. Spread sparkly gold paint over wings with flat brush.

Iron adhesive to back of material. On medium setting, place iron on paper side of adhesive and press for 3 to 5 seconds. Trace patterns on paper back of prepared materials. Download tree skirt patterns here. Use green for 17 holly leaves. Use brown for 8 small and 6 large gingerbread boys. Use mini-print for 15 candy canes. Cut out and remove all paper.

Position gingerbread, holly, and candy canes around chalk edge. (Leave 2 inches of edge undecorated.) Place 3 candy canes between center and border. Iron appliques to felt; let cool. Be sure all edges are secured. Re-iron if necessary, but do not overheat (iron 3 to 7 seconds only).

Now that you’ve seen all the delightful Christmas decorations you can make with your very own hands, the store-bought items you used to ooh and aah over might not seem as special. Get crafting today, and create a home for the holidays the whole family will enjoy.